The best lenses for your Nikon D600

As a group ‘standard’ lenses are versatile and rightly popular and as a result Nikon and third-party rivals offer a very wide choice. Within this group, we’ve looked at 35 models over the range of 40mm to a maximum focal length of 135mm. For the sake of clarity, we’ve divided that group into sections where we have reviewed eight primes between 40 and 50mm, 16 moderate telephotos with a focal length of between 70 to 135mm and then 11 zooms.

With DxOMark scores approaching 40 points, the highest performing lenses of the group, and indeed of all focal lengths, are the 85-100mm models

With a DxO Mark score of 32, three models occupy the top slot for normal lenses on the Nikon D600

If you’re looking for a ‘normal’ lens, one that approximates the field of view of the human eye (although the technical definition describes a lens with a focal length close to that of diagonal of the picture frame) then look no further than the Sigma’s 1.4 EX DG. It is the dearest of the trio at the top and is highly regarded for its image rendering, especially defocused areas. However, Nikon’s AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G scores similarly and is $50 cheaper.

One particularly interesting point to note of is that mounted on the D600, the first five in the list achieved exactly the same DxO Mark score as they did on the higher pixel count D800, and the other two achieve a DxO Mark score of just 1 point less on the D600 than the D800.

This proves that despite the lower pixel count the D600 can achieve similar results to the far pricier D800.

The best scoring lenses of the group are the new Nikon 85mm AF-S models

With the recent updates to the optical design and addition of SWM (ultrasonic type) AF motors, the Nikon AF-S 85mm lenses are very tempting. They also top our database as the highest performing lenses on the D600, both scoring 40 points.

Like the ‘normal’ lenses (above) when mounted on the D600, the first four in the list achieved exactly the same DxO Mark score as they did on the higher pixel count D800, and most of the others achieve a score of just 1 point less.

As for Sharpness, the 85mm f/1.4 Nikkor scored 22M-Pix on the D800 vs 20M-Pix on the D600 however the f/1.8 achieved exactly the same score of 19P-Mpix as did the Zeiss Makro-Planar with 17-P-Mpix.

If the budget can’t extend to Nikon’s $2,199 AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.4G, then the new f1.8G at a more accessible $690 is a sound choice. Except for the faster maximum aperture and more durable build, it has similar features and is close in performance.

Nikon’s AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8G ED and the new Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 VCD sit at the top of the zoom models tested, but it’s always worth looking at the test results

Nikon’s AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8G ED is the best performing of the zoom models tested due its consistent performance throughout the range of focal lengths. But, don’t overlook the new Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 VCD. That model achieves the same score overall and is both cheaper and lighter and boasts image stabilisation, a feature sorely missing off the Nikkor.

Both the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 and Tamron have similar Lens Metric scores with the exception of the Nikon which has high levels of chromatic aberration throughout the range except at 70mm. The upgraded Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED has lower sharpness overall and still quite high levels of CA but the addition of VR (image stabilisation) and smaller size not to mention the $599 ticket makes this attractive.

The Tokina 24-70mm f2.8 and Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED are good options on a budget

Also worth considering is the AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f4G ED VR. With a DxOMark score of 22 that lens has good image quality plus VR and a much greater reach for head and shoulder portraits.

Conclusion

With improving sensor performance makers are now concentrating on designing lenses to compliment. It’s quite clear that many of the older mid-range film-era lenses can no longer keep pace that though the higher-end lenses of the same period can still be up to the task.

Choosing newer models will reward the user with the sharpness levels that are expected from a high-resolution sensor such as that adopted by the Nikon D600.

In fact, the results reveal the sensor to be capable of maximising the potential of any lens fitted to it, while in some cases offering the equivalent level of sharpness when using the same lens mounted on the Nikon D800.

This reinforces the fact that if you’re on a budget, and don’t need some of the other features of that model, the Nikon D600 is a superb choice.

Further readings for the The best lenses for your Nikon D600

To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.

Following on from the lens recommendations for the earlier full-frame Nikon D600, we’ve now had the opportunity to assess a wide range lenses with that model’s replacement, the 24-Mpix D610. We’ve analyzed a total of 95 Nikkor and third-party prime and zoom models with the D610 to assess image quality, and we’ve come across some unexpected results. Read onto find out more about that and which lenses perform best when paired with the camera.

After evaluating the performance characteristics of lenses mounted on full-frame models such as Nikon D800 and D600, as well as the Canon EOS 5D Mk III, we’ve now had the opportunity to analyze a range of lenses on the Sony SLT-A99. In this concise report, we’ll see how well the combination of Sony’s high-end image sensor and the latest Alpha mount lenses perform.

Announced in 2012, the Nikon D800 is the current undisputed king of DxOMark, with results that eclipse every other camera from all other manufacturers. However, with so much resolution on tap, the question is, which lenses should you use to make the best of what you’ve got? The DxOMark labs have tested 61 different lenses on the D800 to bring you an unparalleled resource of which lenses are best and which should be avoided. To make it easy to follow, we have broken the reviews down into sections so you can concentrate on the lenses that are important to you. This first section will give you an overview of the D800. We will follow this with a review of the standard focal length lenses, then the telephoto lenses and super-zooms and finally there will be a wide-angle review.

Nikon 70-210mm f/4 for D600

A different version of this lens is available but....I can't find where to go on website to suggest adding this one (f/4 throughout range) to database. Can someone give me a step-by-step?Dxo support doesn't understand the question.

Re: Best Lens for Nikon D7100 or D5200?

D600 Wrap Up Reviews

A real tour de force; well done. With your analytical reports and the practical input of experts like Thom Hogan it really is hard for amateur photographers to make any regrettable errors when buying Nikon lenses or bodies.

It's always possible to do more, but this really provides definitive world-class benchmarks for higher end equipment.

Re: Sony A99

Nikon 600 back from the cleaners :-)!

Got my D600 back from Nikon a few days ago, with a note telling me it isn't dust-proof! Water-resistant, yes, but not dust-proof?! Guarding their backs, I guess ...

I love it anyway! I'm sure it will have some more dust problems in the future, who cares?! A fantastic camera for me, a poor enthusiast, who sold my beloved Pentax gear to buy this lovely baby! Today I have a nice setup for it: the 28/1.8, the 50/1.4G and the 85/1.8G, plus the Sigma 70 macro, and two classics: 400/5.6 and 80-200/4. If I need a 35 I'll use the DX lens, works quite well (needs some cropping, but not that much)! And I have the AF-S VR 70-300, too, but is more or less is glued to the V1. So no zooms on my D600 (sold the 18-70 & 55-200 today), except that supersharp old 80-200 manual lens!

This oil/dust issue isn't nearly as bad as that happened to a lot of K-5 owners, including me (mine was minor, didn't need to send it off)!

Worst Nikon Camera

I was very happy and excited as it was my first full frame camera, but the sensor dust ruined my camera and my hopes of producing better images, even after cleaning i still see sensor spots on my images when i use it for landscape photography. I am not talking of one or two spots but around 25 to 30 dust spots even after cleaning. Please do not buy this camera, Thanks Nikon for ruining my hopes and ambition.

First replies for this comment

Re: Worst Nikon Camera

Hi there!

deepakv2u: Can you tell me how you got these 30-35 dust spots on your sensor?I am taking pictures for years as a pro photographer and never had any dust spots on my sensor. How come you got so many on yours in that short time??

Nikon's not getting my money on this one!

24MP looked so good, I was ready to jump. But the dirt/grease issue hasn't gone away and now some people are not even having major issues until after 2700 clicks?After reading Tom Hogan's latest threads http://www.bythom.com/, I'm staying with myD700, D5100 & D300, none of which have ever caused me a second of worry.NIKON...fix it or forget it!

D600 video bad compression

Hi, we are making tests with low light ISO 100 and have found very bad compression errors in this camera. Will soon upload a lot more images. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W68p6PAiR9A ¿does anyone have information about this?

First replies for this comment

Re: D600 overexposes just like the D7000

Quote:

<div id="linkdxomark">This a comment for <a href="http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Cameras/Camera-Sensor-Database/Nikon/D600">this page on the website</a></div>I saw some real life test on the www about the fact that the D600 overexposes. That was the reason why I sold my D7000 and use my 'old' D90.

Can anyone explain me why this D600 with such a bad exposure algorithm gets such a good score on DxOMark ...

I almost wonder if Nikon sponsors this site???? ;-)

Kind regards, André

Might be because DXO Tests the sensor raw output and not the camera. And the sensor is indeed very good.

As for your problem with the D7000, it is not really a problem, new sensors are tuned up to be more sensitive.

So using base iso like 200 or 100 is often pulled, and not the real sensor ISO, so it tends to "over expose", but that's the idea getting more photons in order to get more information on the darker areas of the image and so less noise.

Knowing that, if you're shooting raw, you are able to recover about a stop and a half of highlights dynamic range anyway (except if the highlights are really blown up), so it's all right.

If you dislike the output and do not wish to toy with the raw, just use the center weighed average measure, aim at your subject and use AEL to lock the exposure setting and compensate by minus 0.7 ev it should do the trick.Just a question of getting used to the gear.

Anyway for careful exposure, nothing is more reliable than a spot or an area measure, global average measure are rarely good, either too conservative or to prone to highlights clipping. IMO

Re: D600 overexposes just like the D7000

How does DXO explain low light performance when the 600 is bad @ iso 3200 and not usable after that?? and they say its basically the best W T F ?

No good DXO, even your own tests show different to you results and scores. Oh no Nikon dose not do well no worries we'll post it as the BEST - yeah ;D

The 800 again noise is worse than others and all that res ? what did they do with it? Every real world testing and my own tells and shows why Nikon are cheaper and why they are semi pro cameras. DXO should put the coolpix camera as top dog ! score of 120 ha ha

Re: D600 overexposes just like the D7000

1) The tendency to overexpose cannot be judged by some images published on the internet. Unless the images were taken under controlled conditions the result reflects the knowledge of the user more than the qualities of a camera. If you want real world tests of the D600 and other cameras I suggest you look at www.dpreview.com

2) Correct exposure is a function of the camera's light meter system not the sensor. A camera with the worst sensor in the world could have the most accurate metering system and produce perfectly exposed images, albeit of limited quality due to the bad sensor. The opposite situation is also possible.

3) Regardless of the DXO mark, the only real test for a camera is in the hands of the user. There is no “bad” camera among current crop of advanced semi-pro and professional DSLR’s no matter what make you look at. The decision comes down to which feature sets at a given budget are the best fit for your specific needs. At any one time there will always be one manufacturer that has just leapfrogged the rest and be at the top of technical ratings like DXO Mark, but the real world implications of this are for 99,9% of the photographers out there, just a curiosity, not relevant in real world terms.

4) Last but not least I'll tell you my personal experience with the D600. After 4 years using a D300 which is a fantastic camera I switched to a D600 and it is so much better than the D300 as to consider it in a different league. And BTW it does not overexpose. It has the most accurate meter I have had to date. My previous cameras have been D100, D80 and D300.

Re: D600 overexposes just like the D7000

How does DXO explain low light performance when the 600 is bad @ ISO 3200 and not usable after that?? and they say its basically the best W T F ?

No good DXO, even your own tests show different to you results and scores. Oh no Nikon dose not do well no worries we'll post it as the BEST - yeah ;D

The 800 again noise is worse than others and all that res ? what did they do with it? Every real world testing and my own tells and shows why Nikon are cheaper and why they are semi pro cameras. DXO should put the coolpix camera as top dog ! score of 120 ha ha

Right... Sure... Know what? Get the D800 and the D600 in a store, take a couple of shots with your card and then process the raw files... You can print ISO 3200 on 60*40 cm with arguably NO NOISE.

DxO is a company based in France, and if you wanna check their AR is available on infogreffe.fr the French trade registry agency.

Stop raging, seriously. Want to have a proof go shoot full frame. Take D800 and D600 raw file, no noise reduction then take 5DIII 6D raw files no noise reduction, reduce the Nikon files to 21.1 MP (like the canon's) and then watch again at 100%.

You'll see, Nikon SNR is better. Fact. By a margin, but better. Now, instead of raging about something so petty while most of us do not even print bigger than 60*40 cm (24"x16"), people should understand that by today's standard in IQ, at least in FF, there are maybe more relevant issues while evaluating a system than sheer pixel peeping sensor performance...

I use Nikon for instance, and I have criticism about some ergonomics in their cameras or other features, and about the lens line-up as well. If anything should be criticized IMO it's that.

But for that you would have to actually go shoot with one, instead of bashing something that you never ever cared to try...